Announcing with sadness the peaceful death at home on October 4, 2014 of Moira McManus Nickrosz, age 87, after a courageous five year battle with ovarian cancer. She leaves behind her loving husband of 45 years, Dr. Lester V. Nickrosz, and Moira's loving companion Steven R. Hamel, who was like a son to her.
Moira Nickrosz was born in Bandon, County Cork, Ireland on June 7, 1927. She was the daughter of the late Herbert McManus and Ina Finnegan, and was the second eldest of eight children. She is predeceased by brothers Leo McManus and Dr. Conor McManus, and sister Dr. Evelyn Carroll, and is lovingly remembered by her sisters Phil Coyne, Ina Mulrooney and Joan McCormack in Ireland, and her brother Fintan McManus in Australia, as well as her nieces and nephews and their children on both sides of the Atlantic and further afield.
Moira completed her education in Letterkenny, County Donegal and later in Galway, where her father was Chief Superintendent of the Garda Siochana (Police). She obtained her nursing qualifications at St. Stephen's Hospital in Dublin and went on to study midwifery in the United Kingdom. Having worked as a nurse in Ireland, Moira traveled by boat from Cobh, County Cork, to join her sister Evelyn in the United States in the early 1950's, waved off by her parents, family and friends. She continued her nursing career and was even recognized for going beyond the call of duty having helped deliver a baby on a train. Moira later joined the U.S. Air Force and served in Lakenheath in the United Kingdom for a number of years, where she met her husband, Lester.
Moira loved to travel and with Lester she fulfilled her dreams to see much of the world. She was content also to simply enjoy an early morning coffee in her beautiful garden filled with rich colors and warm scents, and over the years a number of very fortunate dogs.
Moira relished spending time in the company of family and friends and her warmth, support and genuine interest in the lives, challenges and aspirations of others was unaffected by distance or time. She loved life and those in her life with an open heart, a readiness to laugh, a twinkle in her blue-grey eyes, and a kitchen filled with purpose and promise. When Moira cooked for you, you felt nourished in body, heart and soul. Her recipes are cherished in many homes as favorites, and although the generosity of spirit infusing them cannot be measured it will always be remembered.
Moira was an inspiration to her family, friends, and all the doctors, nurses, hospice and Church people that she encountered during her final journey.
Her Memorial Mass will be celebrated on Saturday, December 6, 2014 at 11 AM in St. Mary's Church, South Dartmouth. Burial will follow in South Dartmouth Cemetery. Donations in her memory may be made to St. Vincent dePaul Society of St. Mary's Church, 783 Dartmouth St., Dartmouth, MA 02748. For online condolence book, please visit www.saundersdwyer.com.